The Kansas senate last week rejected a proposal to create a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, reports the Lawrence Journal World. Senators voted 16-17 to defeat the bill, but two-thirds of the senate, or 27 votes, were required to pass the legislation.
A Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that a lower court ruling forbidding a gay father from exposing his child to a gay lifestyle is unenforceable, reports WTVF-TV. A divorce court charged Joseph Hogue with contempt of court for revealing his sexuality to his son. Hogue was sentenced to two days in jail. The Court of Appeals ruled in January that the order to not expose a child to a parent’s gay lifestyle was enforceable. Last week, they reversed that ruling.
In just over six weeks, gay residents of Massachusetts are expected to have the right to legally marry. Town and city clerks were notified that training will begin soon to teach them how to process licenses for same-sex couples, reports the Boston Globe.
Benton County, Ore., County Commissioners weighed in on the marriage debate last week, reports The Register Guard. Commissioners initially voted 2-1 to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Several days later, the commissioners called an emergency meeting in which they decided to not issue marriage licenses to anyone—gay or straight—until the state provided equality under the law for gay and straight couples.
Two gay lovers in federal prison may not write to each other because they are not married, reports AP. A U.S. magistrate is recommending that a federal judge uphold a warden’s ruling that Kerry Dean Shotsberger may not write letters to his lover of 18 years who is serving time in the same prison. Federal prison regulations would allow for the two to write letters if they were married, but U.S. magistrate Keith Petso says the two are free to encourage the legislature to legalize gay marriage just as an inmate who wants to communicate with several prisoners is free to encourage the legislature to legalize polygamy. A judge will make the final determination.
An elementary school in Wilmington, N.C., says it accidentally ordered a book about a prince who falls in love with another prince, reports KCRA-TV. The parents of a first-grade student complained when their child brought home King and King. The book will now be locked up at the Freeman Elementary school library and available only for adults.
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